Switch



. H. E. NORVIEL Sept 11 SWITCH Filed Oct. 16, 1919 Patented Sept. 11, 1923.

' lhtlfidii 7 HARRY E. NORVIEL, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE TEAGLE COMPANY, OF

CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO-\ SWITCH.

Application filed October 16, 1919. serial No. 831,160.

To all whom it many concern Be it known that I, HARRY E. NoRvmL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates toswitches for opening and closing electric circuits and is especially applicable to the grounding switches used in connection with the ignition systems of internal combustion engines.

The object of the invention is to provide a switch of the character in question that is easily and conveniently operated, reliable in its action, neat in appearance, simple in construction and that lends itself to economic methods of production.

Referring to the accompanying drawing in which 1 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the outer side of the switch;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 Fig.1, showing the operating lever of the switch turned to a vertical position;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Fig. 3, with the parts in the positions indicated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but with the parts in the positions indicated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on the line 66,.Fig. 4,

Referring in detail to the construction illustrated, 1 is a main support and easing member to the rear or under side of which is secured a rear casing structure which, in the present instance, comprises a heavy block of insulation 2 and a pressed sheet metal casing member 3 in which the insulation block 2 is secured with a forced fit. The inner end ofthe insulation block is cylindrical to fit the sheet metal member 3 and its outer end is flattened on opposite sides, as indicated in Fig. 2, .to fit a correspondingly formed aperture in the sheet metal member 3. The insulation block is thus firmly held against turning in said sheet metal member. The member 3 is secured to the support 1 by a rearwardly extending flange 1 the inner shoulder of which is undercut as indicated in Fig. 3.

As formed, the member 3 has its annular part 3 cupped as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and of a diameter that will just pass within the flange 1 In assembling the parts the cupped annular part 3 is pressed flat, as shown by full lines in Fig. 3, and thus expanded against the flange 1*" and firmly secured to the member 1.

The support 1 is formed with a central cylindrical walled aperture 1 in which is rotatably mounted the movable electrode carrier 4 of the switch. The member 4 comprises a cylindrical body part 4 which fits the aperture 1", a flange 4 which bears against the outer face of the support, an operatlng wing or lever 4 and a pointer 4 The cylindrical part 4 is formed with a circumferential groove 4 near its inner end to receive a resilient split ring 5 which can be snapped into position in the groove 4 and then bears against the inner face of the member 1 and holds the electrode carrier 4 in operative position in said member.

To hold the spring ring 5 against turning with the carrier 4 and interfering with the stop spring hereinafter referred to, the support 1 is formed with shoulders 1, 1 to en age the ends of said ring 5.

Either the fixed electrode or the movable electrode of the switch should be resiliently mounted. In the preferred construction, as shown, I make the fixed electrode rigid and provide a resilient mounting for the movable electrode. In the insulation block 2 I mount a binding post 6 having its outer end threaded and arranged to receive clamping washers 7 and nut 8. The inner reduced part 6 of the post 6 constitutes the fixed electrode of the switch. Said electrode has its inner end flush with the inner surface of the insulation block 2 and is arranged eccentric to the axis of the movable electrode carrier 4.

The electrode carrier 4 is formed with a cylindrical recess 4 to receive a brush or plunger 9 and a coiled spring 10 which applies alight pressure to the plunger. Said .plunger, made of any suitable material, such as carbon, constitutes the movable electrode of the switch, being arranged eccentric to the axis of carrier 4 so as to move into and out of register with fixed electrode 6. When the electrodes are in register the movable electrode is pressed yieldingly against the fixed electrode and then when the carrier 4 is turned the electrodes are separated and the movable electrode 9 rides over the inner surface of insulation block The inner face of the support 1 is recessed to receive a stop spring 12, the support be ing provided with abutments 1, l to engage the spring 12 near its ends, which are bent over the said abutments to retain the spring in operative position. In its middle part the spring has a lateral extension in the form of a small bow or'crimp 1'2 which is adapted to engage either of the two notches 4 and 4 formed in the periphery of the cylindrical part 4 of the carrier 4.

These latter notches and the bow 12 of the spring are so shaped that when force is applied to the carrier 4 to turn it the spring yields under the pressure and bow l2 rides out of the notch. At the same time the spring, when in one of the notches, serves to yieldingly hold the carrier 4 against accidental displacement. l/Vhen the spring engages the notch 4 the movable electrode 9 is in engagement with the fixed electrode 6 and when said spring engages the notch 4 the plunger 9 rests upon the insulation block 2 and the two electrodes are out of engagement.

The support 1 is provided on its outer face with a pairof stop lugs 1, 1 arranged to engage the lever 4 and limit the move ment of the carrier 4 to about 90 degrees, which is the distance between the notches 4 and'4 The support 1 also carries on its outer face the le ends Stop and Run with which the pointer 4 cooperates.

The support 1 and the casing member 3 are apertured to receive screws 13 which serve to secure the switch to some metal part of the engine or automobile frame, such as indicated in broken lines at 14 in Fig. 3.

The support 1 and electrode carrier 4 are preferably die castings made of brass, aluminum alloy or other suitable metal. In the use of the switch, the end of the ground conductor of the ignition circuit is secured to the binding post 6 and, when the parts are in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the two electrodes of the switch are in engagement and connection is made to ground through binding post 6, electrode 6, electrode 9, the cylindrical part 4 of the carrier 4, support 1 and frame 14. Current also passes from carrier 4 through spring 12 to support 1. By turning the switch lever from the stop position to the run position the electrodes are separated and the connection to ground is broken.

By reason of the forms of the notches 4 4 and the how 12 of the stop spring, the said bow starts to enter the notches before the switch lever has moved fully into its terminal positions. This helps to insure a proper positioning of the switch when it is carelessly moved by the operator.

In the manufacture of the switch the binding post 6 is preferably secured in the insulation block 2 when the latter is molded. As previously indicated the support 1 and the electrode carrier 4 can readily be pro duced in the form of die-castin s. The casing member 3 can be stampctr from sheet metal. In assembling the parts the carrier 4 is readily secured in the support 1 by snapping the ring 5 into position, and the stop spring 12 is readily inserted in the re cess of die support. Then, the insulation block having been pressed into the sheet metal casing part 3 and the spring 10 and plunger 9 having been placed in position, the casing part 3 is placed upon the support 1 and the parts inserted in the press which flattens and expands the sheet metal part 3 and firmly secures it to the support 1. Thus no rivets, screws, solder or the like are employed in securing the parts of the switch together. When the parts have been assembled the switch electrodes are obviously thoroughly enclosed and protected from dirt and weather and this, taken with the simplicity and rug edness of the parts, makes the switch relia%le in operation and subject to very slight deterioration from wear.

The form of the stop spring 12 and the manner in which it is supported to engage the notched periphery of the electrode car- 'rier I have found especially advantageous. By supporting both ends of the spring and causing its middle part to engage the carrier notches its action is equally effective for both directions of rotation of the switch. Also by reason of the arrangement of the spring it can be made long enough for effective action without sacrifice of compactness. Obviously the spring is easily made and readily assembled with the other parts.

WVhile I have shown and described in detail a specific form of construction it.will

be understood that I do not intend to limit my invention except as indicated in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an electric switch, the combination of a metallic support and easing member having a cylindrical-walled aperture, a

casing structure secured to the rear side of said annular casing member, an insulated fixed electrode mounted in the rear casing structure in a position eccentric to the said cylindrical aperture, a movable electrode carrier having a cylindrical part rotatably mounted in the saidaperture of-the support and formed with a shoulder bearing against the outer face of said member, and with a peripheral groove adjacentthe inner face of said member, a resilient split ring disposed in said groove to engage the inner side of said support and easing member and hold women the movable electrode carrier in operative position, and an electrode on the said carrier arranged to be moved into and out of engagement with the fixed electrode by rotation of said carrier.

2. In an electric switch, the combination of a casing structure comprising a metallic support having a cylindrical-walled aperture and constituting the front of-said casing structure, an insulated fixed electrode mounted in said casing structure in a position eccentric to said cylindrical aperture, a movable electrode carrier having a cylindrical part rotatably mounted in the said aperture of the support and formed with a shoulder bearing against the outer face of the support and near its inner end with a peripheral groove and notches, a resilient split ring disposed in said groove to engage the inner face of the said support, a yieldable stop carried by the support to engage the notches of the electrode carrier, and means for preventing the rotation of the split ring with said carrier.

3. In an electric switch, the combination of a casing structure comprising a metallic support having a cylindrical-walled aperture and a sheet metal member forced into interlocking engagement with the said support, an insulated fixed electrode mounted in the sheet metal member in a position eccentric to the said cylindrical aperture, a movable metallic electrode carrier having a cylindrical part mounted in said aperture of the support and formed with a shoulder bearing against the outer face of said support, means inside the casing structure for holding the electrode carrier in operative position, and an electrode mounted on and electrically connected to the said carrier and arranged to be moved into and out of engagement with the fixed electrode by the rotation of the carrier.

4. In an electric switch, the combination of a metallic support and easing member having a cylindrical-walled aperture, a casing structure secured to the rear side of said support and easing member and comprising a block of insulating material disposed opposite the said aperture and formed with a smooth inner surface, a fixed electrode mounted in the insulating block in a position eccentricv to the aforesaid cylindrical aperture and with its surface flush with the smooth inner surface of said block, a metallic movable electrode carrier having a cylindrical part rotatably mounted and op eratively secured in the said aperture of the support, and an electrode electrically connected with and supported by said carrier and arranged to yieldlngly press against the said insulating block to move over the smooth surface thereof into and out of contact with the fixed electrode.

5, In an electric switch, the combination of a metallic support and easing member having a cylindrical-walled aperture, a casing structure secured to the rear side of said support and easing member and comprising a block of insulating material disposed opposite the said aperture and formed with a smooth inner surface, a fixed electrode mounted in the insulating block in a position eccentric to the aforesaid cylindrical aperture and with its surface flush with the smooth inner surface of said block, a metallic movable electrode carrier having a cylindrical part rotatably mounted in the said aperture of the support, and means mounted on the electrode carrier within the casing compwisingta part operatively securing the said carrier in said aperture of the support and an electrode part arran ed to yieldingly prem against the said insulating block to move over the smooth surface thereof into and out of contact with the fixed electrode.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

HARRY E. NORV'IEL. 

